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10 things we want in our hotel welcome basket

Mike Dunphy, special for USA TODAY
Published 10:00 a.m. ET May 26, 2015

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photo by elPadawan via Flickr

It’s not always easy to feel welcome in a hotel. In the discussion of fees and regulations at check-in, and the often corporate responses of those working behind the desk, the hospitality can feel frigid, however shiny the veneer.

The smartest hotels try to warm the tone as fast as possible, often with gifts and perhaps a cocktail in the lounge while the porter brings the bags to your room — but more often as a welcome basket in the room. Chosen wisely, the contents give hotels the opportunity to show they both care and understand the desires of the guest. Here are 10 things we love to see in our welcome baskets:

Booze: There’s something about being away from home that makes a drink extra appealing, especially if arriving from a long flight. Champagne looks nice, but wine or cocktails work best, as the effect is more soothing. Plus, it’s a lot easier to bring the wine back home should you never get around to drinking it.

photo by Tnarik Innael via Flickr

Chocolate: The cannabinoids-like compounds and “love drug” Phenylethylamine in chocolate stimulate no end of good will. The truer (and more Belgian) the chocolate, the truer the love, and the longer the hotel leaves a good taste in the mouth.

photo by Iris via Flickr

Extra Shampoo: It's silly, but few parts of a hotel room inspire more delight than the bathroom product, especially if it's top quality. Rather than have guests scrimp a ¼ bottle of the L’Occitane to take home, throw in an extra shampoo, conditioner, and hand cream. You’ll be remembered with each lather.

photo by Elyse via Flickr

Artisanal Water: As the fundamental element of life, water is also the essential element of hospitality. Giving it to guests free of charge shows humanity, and generosity.

photo by Mike Willis via Flickr

QualityTea: For those who can't stand coffee, the tea selection at hotels usually inspires disappointment, especially when cheap bags of Lipton are piled next to fancy nespresso machine. Offering quality tea goes a long way.

photo by McKay Savage via Flickr

Local keepsake: Even if it’s just a cheesy fridge magnet of Big Ben, it’s nice to tie the guest to the destination, be it cheese, jam, oil, or handicrafts. Bonus points go for anything easy to pack and difficult to break.

photo by Leigh Harries
via Flickr

Neighborhood map: City maps are useful, but easily available on your phone. A neighborhood map, however, annotated with the hotel’s inside knowledge, can be invaluable, especially for finding the best in food, drink, and travel supplies.

photo by Wikipoint via Flickr

Flowers: The bed, shower, flat screen TV, iron, and Nespresso machine are for everyone who ever stays in your hotel room. Because they only last a few days, fresh flowers, on the other hand, are just for you, and add a healthy, organic tone to the often sterile, hermetically sealed rooms.

Photo by Liz West via Flickr

Hand Sanitizer: Even if traveling alone, you’ll be joined by thousands, if not millions, of germs at the airport, on the plane, and in public restrooms, restaurants, and transport.

photo by Andrew Braithwaite via Flickr

Wax earplugs: Understandably, hotels don’t want to admit any noise problems by giving guests earplugs, but the fact is, they are often needed.